During my lunch break today, I picked up Keane's new album, Under the Iron Sea. I look forward to checking it out tonight. I thought their debut, Hopes and Fears, was excellent. They sound a bit like Coldplay, but with a better vocalist and no guitars.

Mrs. medic8r and I both like Coldplay and Keane. I'm also curious as to what you think of the new Keane album.

I'm mad at Coldplay because they sold seats at their concert that were behind the stage. Not knowing the layout of the arena, I bought said seats. Sound was unbearable, so after a few minutes, we moved to the opposite end of the arena and stood in an aisle with a center view. Needless to say, much better sound, and the concert was good, if short.

Saw Queen the following week, same arena, same stage set-up, and guess what: those same sections were closed off. I had done my homework this time and we had excellent seats. I don't know if it is up to the band's management to determine how many sections of the arena are offered for sale, but Queen did it right.

I saw Jamie Cullum tonight, fourth row, aisle, in a small theater. I truly think this might be the best concert I've ever been to!

For those unfamiliar with him, this guy is seriously entertaining and quite a musician. He sings, plays piano and keyboards, drums, and guitar. And he does it all with an awesome frenzy of activity....jumping and standing on his piano, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. He played percussion on his piano at several points...you have to see it to believe. Another time he gave the band a break and used a sampler and a mic to first feed in vocalized percussive sounds, and got them looping. Then he added vocalized bass sounds, then chorused many vocal background tracks. he then let those loop while he played piano and sang over them...simply amazing.

He's not the worlds' top vocalist, not pianist, etc....but he's very good at each and wraps them around the most entertaining show you can imagine. And his band is excellent as well...and he gives them the space to prove it.

If you get a chance to see Jamie Cullum and you love music, just go. His studio albums do not capture what he brings to a stage!